Ecological Investigation on the Afroalpine Vegetation of Guna Mountain, South Gondar
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Date
2004-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ecological investigation was conducted on the afroalpine vegetation of the Guna Massif,
South Gondar, Ethiopia, to characterize vegetation communities and type and extent of
utilization of the area by the farming societies at lower slopes
The vegetation of the afroalpine area of Guna Mountain was studied for describing the
major plant communities and relationships between vegetation and topographic, climatic
and edaphic factors. Vegetation composition was studied from quadrats (10 x 10 m)
while quadrat size 1 m x 1 m was used for herbaceous vegetation along an altitudinal
gradient extending from 3481 m up to 4041 m. From each quadrat, species presence
and absence, percent cover abundance and frequency of 56 plant species from a total
of 45 quadrats were recorded. Soil samples were collected from each quadrat and were
analyzed for texture, pH, conductivity and soil moisture. Association analysis was
performed on the vegetation data using the program SYNTAX to identify the community
types. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was applied to identify four species groups. Six
major plant communities, namely: Hypericum-Carex-Satureja community, EricaHypericum-
Dipsacus scrub community, Festuca-Erica complex community, FestucaOestospermum
meadow community type, Festuca-Lobelia-Thymus community type and
Lobepa-Festuca-Helichlysum heather community type was described. Vegetation cover
and species diversity decreased with an increase in altitude, Soil moisture content also
decreased with altitude. The sites occupied by the major plant communities differed
significantly in their soil texture and soil moisture content Socio-economic data were obtained through questionnaire, on site observation as well
as using 1984 and 1994 population census results. Twenty informants were selected in
each "Kebele" for the study using systematic random sampling. Chi-Square test and
correlation analysis were used to relate mode of utilization of the natural resources
(grazing, thatching and firewood) by the peasant associations adjoining Guna Massif.
Grazing was the most important mode of utilization followed by thatching and firewood.
Most respondents (60-70%) considered the Guna area as a very important source for
thatching grass, while seven out of eight peasant associations depended on the Guna
area as a source of fuel-wood.
The biomass production showed significant seasonal variations fo !lowing rainfall. Peak biomass
was obtained during the wet periods, June-October. It ranged from 85.1 g n12 to 224.9 g m-2 for
mixed stands (AlldrojJogoll ([mcthystilllls + Festllc([ richardil) and 96.1 g 111-
2 for F. riclwrdii
pure stand. There was relatively little growth in the dry period (October-Janumy). The annual
biomass production ranged from 112 g m·2 to 82 g m·2 for F. ric/wrciii and mixed stands,
respectively. The biomass production of F. richardii stand was significantly lower than the
mixed stand species.
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Biology